Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 31st July 2025
Last updated
Wed 30th Jul 25 at
4:12PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showery rain in Scotland tends to ease, cloud increasingly clearing tops of central and southeast highlands. Morning cloud and patchy rain in south Scotland and England tends to improve as well; afternoon showery outbreaks from Cheviots down the eastern Pennines. Wet and dull in Wales, improving afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Morning rain then showers, mostly east; tops mostly in cloud
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15 to 25mph, at times reaching up to 30mph high northeast Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, locally feeling more blustery at times on higher slopes; balance at times challenged in strongest gusts on eastern tops. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Occasional rain and showers
Rain, locally heavy, across eastern slopes at dawn, soon fading. Patchy rain over western areas and high tops, then scattered showers during afternoon, tending to fade.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive on higher areas
Covering higher slopes fairly widely above 900-1100m, down towards 600-700m east Cairngorms in morning rain. Tending to lift towards higher slopes or tops afternoon, though high Cairngorms will struggle to clear (particularly east). Ragged patches lowering in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, 50% near Drumochter/Monadhlaith
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare bursts of sun, possibly increasing western areas late in the day. Visibility reduced in rain, later becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, rising up to 11C south of Cairngorm plateau. North slopes may see minimal or no rise. Feeling close to freezing in the wind on highest tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 1st August 2025
Last updated
Wed 30th Jul 25 at
4:12PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest over Cairngorm plateau, especially toward east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking over tops, frequent buffeting on exposed terrain. Significant wind chill higher areas.
How Wet?
Showers, fading later
Showery rain, most common over north Cairngorms and Monadhliath, some pushing increasingly south and east. Some risk of more extensive rain far east for a time. Tending to fade
Cloud on the hills?
Covering higher tops, some improvement
Covering higher Cairngorms fairly extensively and widely above 900-1000m in morning, tending to rise and breaks above 1100-1200m, some breaks to tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun. Visibility very good away from showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C, locally warmer south Cairngorms. Feeling below freezing in wind, -5C higher summits in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 2nd August 2025
Last updated
Wed 30th Jul 25 at
4:12PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 15-20mph. Trending westerly and easing somewhat, though often gusty over higher terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, some uncomfortable gusts on high terrain.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
Small chance of odd spots of rain drifting onto northeastern slopes of Cairngorms in the morning. Otherwise dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Patchy mid-slope cloud dissipates
In the morning, patchy cloud forms around 800-1000m; high Cairngorm tops likely above cloud layer. Cloud will dissipate for a clear afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90% - cloud layers below tops
Sunshine and air clarity?
Increasingly sunny, most extensive south and east. High cloud builds from the west later. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 or 7C, rising to 11 to 13C, warmest southeast Cairngorms/Deeside. Little or no drop in temperature as night falls.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds prevail in the extended outlook, though the weather will be changeable. Heavy rain and strong wind is expected Saturday night and Monday, though detail remains uncertain currently. High pressure will bring a brief settled spell around midweek with a mix of cloud and sun, then occasional low pressure systems come and go - western mountains often shrouded in cloud with periods of rain, at times heavy. Some cloud and rain drifts east, mostly in Scotland. Variable winds too, at times quite blustery. Temperatures near average, variably cooler north. Ridges of higher pressure will build occasionally from the southwest for better windows of weather, particularly England & Wales.